The true northerner., 1887-09-28
CENTRAL PACIFIC.
J. p Huntington Says the Government
Owes the Company $2,0O0,0oo,
and Will Not Pay.
The Magnate Explains How Money Was
Used TO "Infiuence" United
States Senator's.
New York telegram


p. G. Huntington appeared as q witness
before the Pacific Railroad Commission on
Friday, and the examination into the diff
ferent letters sent to Mr.. Cotton was en-
tered upon. The first was in relation to
having con vinced certain Senator from
Florida of the advantages of the Southern
Pacific Road TO the Gulf States. The
witness did not know whether IL was Sem
ator Jones or Senator Conover be referred
to. He knew both gentlemen personally.
The next was relative TO having a Cali
fornia Senator friendly to the road. Moth
ing could be extracted from Mr.. Hunting
ton on this head, except that Mr.. A.
A Sargent, whose name Mr.. Anderson
mentioned, would have been a most admir-
able man for the position. He was well
and able, and above suspicion. Following
this came a letter commenting upon the
advisability of purchasing Senator Jones
(of Nevada) road, the Los Angeles and In
dependence, SO as to induce him to favor
the Union Pacific and Northern Pacific
Railroads sinking fund bill. He bought
the road, which cost $4,000, for $780,
600. Jones was hard up, and witness knew
1t would make Jones take a greater inter-
est in the Pacific roads if he took the other
one Off his hands, SO he took il.
Another letter brought in Mr.. Hunting
tons opinion of socialism and the Con-
gress Of 1878. "This Congress is an
agraiian camp. 1t is composed of the
worst body of men that ever got together
In the country"
"Do you recognize your sentiments in
that passage?" asked Mr.. Anderson.
We'll, of late years / have remarked
of these anarchists and socialists into pub
lie places They can not make money
themselves honestly, but have remarked
that $1,000 is q great deal to them, and
they will do lot for less"
Mr.. Huntington then entered into an
other explanation of how money could be
legitimately spent in influencing Congress.
Mr.. Huntington knew nothing about the
books of the Contract and Finance Com
pany. He knew that after building the
Central Pacific the companys debts were
big and its assets nothing but Central Pa
cific stock of less value than the amount OF
its debts.
Il never kept the books of the company,
and carry most of my own business memo
randa under my hat, ;" said he, and they
very seldom mislead me-"
The witness went into the methods and
men employed in starting the Central Pa
cifc. Every one went III at his personal
solicitation. Only good, honest, thrifty
men were taken in, like Gov. Stanford and
Mr.. Crocker. THE Government took
away our power of repaying them quickly
when it subsidized parallel lines. That
was not our fault. We have fulfilled every
obligation to the Government. 1t is they
who have broken the contract. The ex-
penses at one time were enormous. Freight
insurance, provisions, everything, was
high during the war. Materials had to
be shipped around Cape Horn a
year in advance, and thus interest
was lost. At present the Government owes
the Central $2,000,000, which it will moi
pay, and it won't pay interest on anything
it once has in it's grasp. The most expensive
part Of the road was over the Sierra Neva-
das. It cost Mr.. Crocker more than the
contracts came anywhere near paying him
At one time it looked like q losing enter
prise. The risk was enormous, and it was
not until long afterward that the profits
showed themselves"
Mr.. Huntington asserted that the Gov
eminent paid the Central Pacific less fol
carrying the mails over the Sierra Nevadas
than it paid the level Eastern roads. Tc
which statement Mr.. Littler responded
that he would like TO have the official date
of that assertion, as if it was true it was 6
very grievous charge to prefer against the
Government. The witness promised tc
send in the full particulars.